Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-08-17
LENS SACRIFICE I
Written for this paper.

It was a strange scene that Stanley Graham
saw in the rude public hall of the Florida
town where he was spending the winter. A
dance was in progress, merry gathering of
the natives, and the rude laughter and uncon-
ventional manner were in strong contrast
with the refinement and rigid formality to
which Stanley was accustomed. He looked
on awhile indfferently, then turned away
with the thought that the whole affair was
uncongenial and repugnant to him.
Just then northern acquaintance hailed
him.
II say, Stan, what's your hurry9 Come
back, ! want to introduce you to the prettiest
Cracker girl you ever saw"
30, bother with your Cracker girls!" Stan
ley replied in an annoyed tone; "they are too
barbarouS for me-"
The friend laughed and said: "Well, come
ana see the fairest barbarian of them all :"
and Selling Stanley by the arm he led him
away an unwilling prisoner.
A moment later he was being introduced
to Sukey Sullivan, the friends eyes cleaning
with pleasure as he saw Stanley vince at the
name.
Great heavens" thought the latter, grit
ting his teeth as he bowed low, "what n hor-
rible name!"
And then, as he raised his head, he saw a
girl of such rare beauty as fairly startled
him.
The spell of her beauty was rudely broken
when Sukey said to her new acquaintance,
"A right smart lot O. folks hyar, mister
reckon thar's gwne ter be heap o. fun
Stanley WINGED again, but replied with as
much grace as possible, and Sukey, evidently
well pleased with her new friend, found much
to talk about.
"D'ye low that we has anythin' like this up
north" she asked after awhile, looking with
evident satisfaction on the scene before her.
"No, we never have anything like this, ="
Stanley responded, and the tone of his voice
caused her to turn quickly and look at him
while the color deepened on her cheek.
"Oh, l know, mister. Ye reckon that
we'uns air po' lot of folks, rough an igno-
rant, an no fine ways like yo' folks up thar
There was a panied look in her eyes and a
tone of reproach in her voice that Stanley
could not help noticing, and he fastened to
make amends for his thoughtless words.
Skillfully turning the conversation into other
channels, he drew out the girl, and while she
was wholly unconventional in her manner
and her abundant provincialisms betrayed
her origin, he found her neither rude nor
boisterous. But she was bright, witty, orig
inal and quite sensible in her talk, and Stan
ley was interested in spite Of himself.
Two days after the dancing party Stanley
went two miles through the forest from town
to "Bowlin settlement" seeking the presence
of this fair barbarian. Drawing rein in front
Of the Sullivan cabin, in a little clearing
which formed part of the settlement. he en-.
counteled the old man Sullivan, a tall, lean
cadaverous individual, with a shock of tow
colored hair, expressionless blue eyes, dull
discouraged air, and corncob pipe. The
putting of this pipe was his sole act in life
that was performed with any vigor or in.
tereSt.
"Mornin', strangerl Won't yer light n
cum inl" said Sullivan, with ready southern
hospitality.
Stanley tied his horse and entered the bare,
comfortless living room. The dinner was
cooking in the open fireplace, and the odors
Of cabbage and frying bacon assailed his nos
trils. Sukeys home was rude and cheer
less one, indeed, as Stanley looked about it,
and her coming into the room was to him like
a ray OF sunshine on bleak landscape. Yet
he accepted the invitation TO dinner, gulped
down the unsavory viands with amazing
grace, and did the agreeable to "paw" and
"maw"
All for a simple Cracker girl whose beauty
| had entranced hin,i What would his north
ern friends say II they could see himi